Small Steps--October 5, 2023

Small Steps--October 5, 2023

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." [Philippians 3:10-12]

I am great at giving up. A world-class half-baker. A prodigy at fine beginnings that sputter out when I get distracted... or discouraged... or bored... or tired. But the life of faith is, without a doubt, a long haul. And that means I have to learn and re-learn--and also to commit and then re-commit--to keeping at the journey.  That's because, as we're learning this month, Christ-like love endures.

So we take small steps. Over and over. Left. Right. Repeat.

Sometimes only one at a time, and sometimes taking a step or two backward as well along the way. Sometimes with only enough light for the next foothold. But we keep on keeping on--or as the apostle puts it, "pressing on toward the goal."

I know that's not as dramatic as we might want to imagine faith being. I know we have all heard dramatic conversion stories like, "I used to be on drugs and broke, but then I gave my life to Jesus, and now it has all turned around!" or like Paul's own journey from being a persecutor of the church to being its most ardent missionary. But even those stories, as dramatic as they can seem, are only part of the story of a lifelong walk that sometimes is pretty slow going. And in those times, we keep walking after Jesus, even if it feels like we aren't getting very far along the way, because we trust where he is leading us. But it does mean being willing to keep "pressing on" at times when we might want to give up, go in a different direction, or change the channel. It means, as Eugene Peterson once famously put it, riffing on a phrase of Nietzsche's, "a long obedience in the same direction." Maybe that's what loving God really is--a shared journey step by step that keeps on going the distance with the One who has claimed us, rather than a spurt of devotion that fizzles into apathy like fireworks that sparkle and fade.

I think that's the part that can be so difficult for us. We struggle with attention spans, and we are easy to distract. At least I know I am. But I don't think I'm alone on this. We get excited about whatever the latest shocking thing in the headlines is, or whatever outrageous thing was said yesterday, and we find it holds our attention for a little while... until the next thing comes along. We can give a day's worth of focus to a news story, or a week's worth of energy toward a problem if it is pressing... but we have a hard time sustaining our commitment to actually fixing or repairing things. And so we end up with a culture that doesn't solve problems so much as it gets bored with them, and moves on to something new without actually resolving whatever was upsetting us before. And when that happens, we end up turning our ears and minds to whatever loud voice can keep shouting the most outrageous things to keep our attention. That's a marvelously effective way to distract people or rile them up, but it's a terrible strategy for actually resolving things or solving a problem.

And in the life of faith, that same need for constant novelty and fresh distraction is terrible for deepening our walk with Christ and strengthening our faith and love. If we approach our faith like we are audience members who only do things to be entertained, or who only commit when there's an immediate pay-off, we will miss out on something vital to a living relationship with Jesus. If I decide that it's not worth it to keep in the discipline of praying... or that it's not "interesting" enough to keep participating in worship... or that it's "too hard" to sustain the ways I serve my neighbors, I'm stunting the growth of my faith.

Instead, Paul would have us keep going, even when it is difficult, even when it can feel routine, even when there's not something outrageous or spectacular going to experience, and even if we feel bored sometimes. After all, sometimes loving your neighbor takes the form of something dramatic and daring, like saving someone from a burning building... but a lot of time, loving your neighbor takes the form of something mundane and ordinary, like washing the dishes, bringing over a meal, or wearing a face mask at the grocery store. Following Jesus means walking with him not just for the exciting parts, but for the moments that feel downright dull. I'm sure washing feet got boring after the third set of dusty toes, too.  Christ-like love burns slow like a candle's flame in a dark room; no one needs it to explode like a cherry bomb.

When we put our walk of discipleship lower in importance than the flashy, attention-getting things that seem more "fun" to do on a Sunday morning, or that require less discipline than daily prayer, or require less wok than showing compassion to people you don't like, something happens to our faith... something bad. It's like the slow, often unnoticeable, maybe even unintentional death of a friendship that happens as you just fall further and further out of touch. On the flip-side, when we keep putting our lives of discipleship at the center of our lives, then even the boring things become places of unexpected joy and beauty--much like how when you spend time with someone who is important to you, even trivial things like grocery shopping or washing dishes can draw you closer.

I think that's part of the invitation Paul would give us. It's not that if we don't stay close enough to Jesus in this life, we'll miss the train to heaven and lose his love. No, we know the destination, and our "goal" is sure. We know we're headed for resurrection life in Christ, and we know Christ has made us his own already--but we'll miss out on a lot along the way if we keep letting ourselves get distracted by lesser things (and lesser loves). And Paul would rather we have the fullest experience of life in Christ even now, not just after death.

I think Jesus wants that for us, too.

Today, what are the places we can each keep at the walk of discipleship, even if it is difficult... or sometimes routine... or sometimes thankless? And how can even the mundane moments become places for us to love others more deeply, just by putting one foot in front of the other?

Lord Jesus, keep us on your way, and keep us pressing along with you, since we know you promise to bring us home to you in the end.